Statement of Archbishop Carlson on Passing of Senate Bill 5 in Special Session of Missouri Legislature

ST. LOUIS – Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, released the following statement at the conclusion of the special session of the Missouri Legislature today:

The passage of Senate Bill 5 by the Missouri Legislature is a welcome resolution to a protracted special session. This important pro-life legislation will save the lives of unborn children, safeguard the health and safety of women, and protect the freedom of pregnancy resource centers to hire whom they choose.

Senate Bill 5, though laudable, does not completely overturn the “abortion sanctuary” ordinance in the City of St. Louis; thus, the lawsuit filed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis and others against the City of St. Louis and ordinance 70459 will continue.

Ultimately, the worth of this special session will not be determined by the money spent, but by the number of lives saved, of which we may never have an exact accounting.

In closing, I urge any woman struggling with her pregnancy, or anyone wounded by abortion, to seek hope and healing through the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis by calling 314.792.7555. The Church stands ready to offer assistance to anyone who truly seeks God’s mercy.